grammy awards

This is TV Squad. We don't pretend to have a deep understanding of music and the hottest new artists. However, when the music industry decides to fill three hours of television time with their awards show, we feel an obligation to offer our opinion about it.

The performances were mostly great and the presenters were as awkward and cheesy as always. What follows is a recap from TV writer's point of view, someone who finds pleasure in watching huge television events and making snarky comments to an empty living room.

The Grammys hand out its awards tonight at 8PM ET on CBS, and if you scanned the humongous nomination list (109 categories, hello!), you found a lot of TV favorites there.

Some of them are in niche categories that will probably not be featured on tonight's broadcast. But we expect to see at least a few of the following stars in their Staples Center seats, if not bringing it on stage

"Dancing with the Stars' is surprisingly well-represented on the Grammy list. Season 2 contestant Tia Carrere -- also known as Cha Cha on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' -- contends in Best Hawaiian Music Album for her CD 'Huana Ke Aloha.' And last season's 'DWTS' resident comic hoofer Margaret Cho (photo) is represented in the Best Comedy Album category for 'Cho Dependent'.

The 53rd annual Grammy Awards are just around the corner! Last night's 'Grammy Nomination Concert' (Wed., 10PM ET on CBS) revealed who would compete for the top musical award in the nation. The biggest prize: Best Album of the Year. Legendary performer Stevie Wonder read off the list of nominees -- and he gave us a little history lesson, which included himself.

Stevie said that in the past, the Best Album award has gone to the greatest performers. The award went to some true geniuses, "from Frank Sinatra, to the Beatles, to Michael Jackson, to U2, to Stevie Wond ... " Whoops. There was a brief surprised pause, and then he added: " ... Stevie Wonder?"

Okay, we know that Stevie wasn't reading from cue cards -- so he had his remarks memorized, and wasn't actually surprised. But if anyone's won the right to plug himself a little, it's Stevie. The singer-songwriter has won 22 Grammys in his lifetime, tying him with U2, and placing him 5th on the all-time list of winners.

Busty models Adriana Lima, Chanel Iman, Alessandra Ambrosio and the rest of the 'angels' walk the fine line between sexy and vulgar on the Victoria's Secret runway. The point of this annual stroll is to check out the $2 million fantasy bra -- designed this year by Damiani -- and marvel at how many places it would cut you if you actually wore it. Katy Perry and Akon perform on the runway, bringing another pair of famous ta-tas to the proceedings.

It's fitting that Taylor Swift talked to 'The Early Show' (weekdays, 7AM ET on CBS) on the set where 'The Wizard of Oz' was filmed. As she puts it, "I'm not in Nashville anymore." The pop star has won just about every music award except a Grammy, but that will likely change this Sunday, as she's nominated for eight Grammys!

"I would love to know what that felt like some day, and I'm not gonna be picky about it," she said. "I would take any of the eight. I would take one this year or ten years from now. It feels really wonderful to have eight shots at it." Swift will also be performing at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday, Jan. 31, 8PM ET on CBS.

Both Swift and Beyonce are coming off major years, with two ubiquitous singles. Swift's up for 8 nominations, including Song of the Year for her chart-topper 'You Belong With Me.' Her latest album, 'Fearless,' is also up for Best Album of the Year and Best Country Album.

CBS has had a rocky relationship with their new evening news anchor. The move to hire her after journalist Dan Rather went down in flames like a phoenix blasted out of the sky was heralded as a new dawn without realizing that it sets just as quick.

Couric has earned some respect for her work since Sarah Palin let her stick her brain in a Newton's Cradle and knock it back and forth until her "You betchas" became her "Okie dokies". But the news broadcast is still third in the ratings war and the egg hasn't completely been washed from CBS' face.

So until Palin announces her bid to run for head of Alaska's border patrol to keep those pesky Russians at bay, CBS hopes they can keep what little momentum they have going by doing for Couric what NBC just did for Jay Leno.

On February 10, the Grammy Awards will be shown on CBS with the benefit of writers. The WGA has agreed to let striking writers work on the awards show.

This year is the 50th telecast of the Grammys and it makes sense that the WGA would permit their members to work on this show. After all, the musicians' union is another union and creating music is still just another form of writing.

This year's awards season, barely a month old now, has not been a good one for Hollywood. First, the Golden Globes ceremony was reduced to an Access Hollywood special after members of the Writers Guild and Screen Actors Guild boycotted the show. Now, it looks like the Grammy Awards ceremony may also be in trouble.

It is being reported that the striking guild will probably bar its members from working on the February 10th Grammys telecast. Grammy organizers have yet to ask for a waiver allowing for writers to work on the show. However, according to a WGA spokesperson, a waiver grant would be unlikely. There is no word if the WGA will picket the ceremony. If it does, then SAG members will not cross the picket line. This potentially means another exciting 1-hour infotainment special.

I'm sure members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are sweating a bit now.

You kiddies might not know this, but back in the old days (the golden years of MTV), long before Paula became the weeping, slurring, iconic Idol judge, she was a chart-topping performer who sold over 30 million records. She also won a Grammy, along with seven MTV Awards, two Emmy Awards, two People's Choice Awards, and two Kids Choice Awards. Not bad for an ex-cheerleader.

Paula proves that you don't have to win American Idol or have the "best voice in the world" to sell a lot of albums.